John Hendra

John Hendra

For the past 2½ years, John has both led UN Women’s global policy work in gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment and has overseen the repositioning of UN Women’s programmes in over 70 countries world-wide. Over the past year, he has also been deeply engaged in global thematic and national consultations and intense public debate about the post-2015 development agenda, serving as one of four ASGs tasked by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to coordinate UN System efforts around the new post-MDG agenda. John brings extensive development policy and advocacy experience and unique reform credentials to this work after serving for five years as UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam (2006-2011) where he spearheaded the “One UN Initiative”, a major reform of the UN’s work at country level which was independently evaluated as significantly enhancing UN policy impact and overall development effectiveness. This new mode of working with the UN – “Delivering as One” - is now being voluntarily adapted by over 60 countries around the world. John also brings a wealth of experience conducting policy dialogue at the highest levels after serving as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania (2002-2006) and Latvia (1993-1997) in addition to Vietnam. Throughout his UN career he has been at the leading edge of UN reform, from being selected the youngest UNDP Res. Rep. ever to helping lead “Delivering as One” to serving as one of two Deputies to Michelle Bachelet, the founding Executive Director of UN Women, an organization born out of the need for greater UN system-wide coherence around ensuring gender equality and advancing women’s rights.